Administrative System of the Marathas c21.s3.36

c21.s3.36

Space will not permit a more detailed treatment of the Maratha military system here, but it will not be out of place to take note of one significant change in the character of the Maratha leaders. They were no longer the hardy simple warriors who could rightly call the saddle their home. When Shivaji led his army to the Carnatak he had with him only two rough small tents, one for himself and the other for his ministers. But the Maratha chiefs who accompanied Sadashiv Rao to the fatal field of Panipat needed like the Mughal officers of Aurangzib costly tents, splendid equipments and comforts and luxuries of all sorts. Even the followers of the homeless Raghoba could not do without a certain amount of pomp and splendour. Forbes writes—"The Maratha cavaliers of distinction frequently ornament their saddles with the bushy tails of the Thibet cows, as also the horse's head. On one side an attendant carries a rich umbrella, called an aftaphgere, generally of velvet, embroidered with gold; on the other, is a man with a large fan, or chouree, formed of the tail of the wild cow from Thibet, covered with long flowing hair, delicately white, and soft as silk: the handle is gold or silver, sometimes studded with jewels........ The cruppers, martingales and bridles of the horses, are ornamented, according to the rank and wealth of the owner, with gold or silver plates, knobs, coins, and a variety of decorations: the tails of the grey horses are frequently dyed of a red and orange colour, and the manes plaited with silk and ribbands, interspersed with silver roses :...... The great men have also servants with gold and silver staves of rich workmanship running before them, called chopdars and assaburdars: a sort of heralds, who sing their praises, and proclaim their titles in the hyperbolic style of the east :... The magnificence of the Indian tents, pavilions, and summinianas, or canopy far exceeds anything of the kind in Europe...... The Mahrattas seem to prefer their tents to houses, and enjoy more pleasure in a camp than a city." ³¹